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California congressman Josh Harder wants the feds to step up repayment to local fire departments when they help fight blazes on government land. The Central Valley democrat is introducing a bill to make sure local departments are fairly and quickly paid back for responding to fires on federal land. Harder recently met with fire chiefs who were waiting over a year for the federal funds. The bill would standardize fire suppression costs agreements and modify them as needed. Harder says his bill protects local departments by ensuring the agreements they enter with the U.S. Forest Service are honored completely, transparently and in a timely manner.